Would it be nice to wake up one morning, regardless of the season, and find that all the streets of Trenton were clean — garbage-, trash- and crime-free? I am not talking about any superpower that would suddenly appear out of the comics of Marvel Comic Books, but from the sweat and hard work of the residents and their amazing power to overcome the stigmas of Trenton.

A month ago, concerned residents of Garfield Avenue were invited by East Ward Councilwoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson to walk through the neighborhood with Police Director Ralph Rivera, Inspections Director Cleveland Thompson and Public Works Director Luis Mollinedo to point out problem properties, both vacant and occupied.

Having targeted properties that were in poor condition and an eyesore to the community, the Garfield Avenue Civic Association held a meeting with the residents and they all agreed to host a block clean-up.

Past block parties worked and they were a lot of fun. Residents of a neighborhood would host a party for the entire street by blocking it off. Everyone would eat, drink, dance and play games. There were no disturbances, shootings or profanity. Everyone was social. It was a function that engaged the whole family.

If we could lay aside our differences and take a real look at our communities and take a stroll down memory lane — which every neighborhood has — we will see that it was not the city that swept in front of our houses; bagged our trash; mowed our lawns; painted our porches, steps or houses; planted flowers and gardens. It was us.

What has happened? If it was not you, then it was your parents or grandparents who did. Boy, did they leave a great legacy that we are charged to continue! They did not let their current situations keep them from maintaining the one place and the only place where they could find solace and pride: home. Things weren’t different in the neighborhood then. They had to deal with the same issues and some of the same types of people. But unlike us, they did not let it spiral out of control.

On Garfield Avenue in the City of Trenton, several neighbors showed up with rakes, weed whackers, brooms, a mower, leaf blowers, hammers and a saw to begin the first round of their block clean-up. With help from Perry Shaw of the nonprofit A Better Way Inc. and the City of Trenton Public Works Department, which provided gloves and garbage bags, the people took to the streets. Others noticed and came to help. A group of Latino men from Cleveland Avenue passed by and pitched in. It was amazing to see African Americans, Latinos and Caucasians, young men in their 20s, the elderly, disabled and children all working together to restore a community that was smothering from blight.

This collaboration of residents has sparked a fire in the East Ward neighborhood. Residents of Cleveland Avenue have begun cleaning their back yards and installing new fences. Property owners are all painting, cleaning and repairing their homes. Other properties that stand dormant were cleaned, repaired and painted. These properties have been neglected and abandoned by their owners and landlords. But the pride and belief of the community is: “We are no stronger than our weakest link. If one property on our street looks bad, we all look bad.” “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” is their slogan.

Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up to the cry “There’s a party over here!” from every street in Trenton? A clean-up block party — that’s right. There are no superpowers at work, but there just may be something “contagious” happening.

Pastor Pearlie Murray, Ph.D., is president of the Garfield Avenue Civic Association.